"Splendid!" Jonah was relieved that things had gone so well, and he was glad the ladies would be somewhere more comfortable and safe. "I will let the gentlemen know, too, so they can make arrangements."
It was going to be a change for him, to have people in the house at night, when he was accustomed to be rattling around the big place by himself.
"I'll have to make sure they don't shoot any patients who come by in the middle of the night, pounding on the door." He chuckled. "It doesn't happen often, but...well, it's best you are warned, too. It's startling, to say the least, and annoying on cold nights...but can't be avoided."
Emergencies didn't care if you were asleep, or if it was below freezing outside!
how many men will be here, though I do expect there would still be some in town to watch the property
Both Leah and Elinlor giggled at the thought of Jonah in his night shirt stumbling through the house to answer the door in the dark. Though in reality, Johnah surely had a light burning for just such events.
"Excuse us, the idea of late night medfical emergencies simply struck us as funny, though we know they are not." Leah explained.
"Are you sure this will not be an inconvenience? I mean, we have no idea how many men would be here, and how many would be staying up in town watching over the property." Elinor pointed out.
"A couple here, we can fight if need be." Leah promised, "The rest up in town, and they can switch off between here and there if they like."
"That, ladies, is beyond my expertise," Jonah chuckled. "I'll let the men decide that, and we can adjust as we need to. We'll have to add a proper stable, but I don't think that should take too long." And imagine Jonah in shirtsleeves wielding a hammer!
"They know what they need, and what they are comfortable with. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have guns stashed around the house here and there, just in case." It seemed an odd combination, having a medical clinic along with a stronghold!
"I can talk to them after I drop you off, see what they have to say."
"That, ladies, is beyond my expertise," Jonah chuckled. "I'll let the men decide that, and we can adjust as we need to. We'll have to add a proper stable, but I don't think that should take too long." And imagine Jonah in shirtsleeves wielding a hammer!
"Of course a stable for the influx of horses, and better shelter for your buggy." Leah agreed, not just with the stable but with Jona's willingness to listen to the men.
"They know what they need, and what they are comfortable with. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have guns stashed around the house here and there, just in case." It seemed an odd combination, having a medical clinic along with a stronghold!
"Yes they do, what I know of them, and that's quite a bit, Bannister and those with him will have a good idea of what is needed and how to keep most all of it out of sight. So their comings and goings may be at odd hours, to avoid prying eyes. You do realize there are those in town who will relay things out to the Evergreen
"I can talk to them after I drop you off, see what they have to say."
Both women nodded to what he said. This was developing quite nicely after all!
Life was about to change at the clinic, and Jonah wasn't sure he was ready for it, but there was no going back...not that he wanted to. It was a good solution to multiple problems, and although it was going to be an adjustment, Jonah was looking forward to it.
The ride to town was only about ten minutes in the buggy, and as Jonah helped the ladies down, he commented, "The buggy is yours, I can walk back after I talk to the men." Then he had a thought. "Or will you need help moving things?" They were capable, he knew that, but it still wasn't gentlemanly to expect them to carry their own things!
"I have a plan Jonah, and it does not require the use of your buggy." Leah began, "Much as we appreciate your offer of its use, our idea is to hopefully engage Addy Chapple to haul our belongings that we will have a couple of the men bring down to her wagon and hav e her deliver it where the other men staying at the house will unload it and take it up to our room for us." She smiled and batted her eyes at him.
"Really, Leah." Elinor said, "And, what she failed to mention is that the wagon, with its contents shrouded from view, will appear to be just another delivery to your clinic. I would bet, Miss Chappel can get that wagon to your place unseen, or close to it. Not that it would be necessary. So you see Jonah, we are well aware of the use of subterfuge."
"Ah, well, I'll have to be sure to keep an eye on you ladies," Jonah chuckled, "now that you've admitted to subterfuge!" He held the door to the hotel open for them, then nodded, touching the brim of his hat. "The doors will be unlocked for you, and I'll let Bannister know you're going to need help over there."
This was going nicely, he thought, as he walked over to the house that Leah's guards used and knocked on the door, waiting to pass on the news!
"We appreciate that Doctor." Leah said, "You may relay the entire idea to him, and should there be questions, he can certainly feel free to ask." Knowing of course he was aware of that liberty,
"Thank you kind sir, both of us are most appreciative of all you have done on our behalf," Elinor added with a smile. It would seem that some arrangement had been made, or concluded, but not much of a clue as to what it all meant. And, that was by design by both ladies. A Mother and her daughter. no need to discuss what was said beforehand, either could take the lead and the other would follow along.
Was Jonah a bit confused, or was he aware of the subterfuge being played out at the entrance of the hotel?
Storyteller / Shared NPC
This was going nicely, he thought, as he walked over to the house that Leah's guards used and knocked on the door, waiting to pass on the news!
At #6 Washington Street Fraiser answered the door. "Well, Doc, 'mon in." He greeted. There was no use shouting that Doc Danforth had arrived; the house was just too small for that, and everyone knew it when he stepped up on the porch. Bannister got up, tossing his cards on the table.
"I'm out," he said disgustedly. "Good news, Doc? I mean, we're ready to make the move tonight after the town's asleep, that's fewer people that could see us, might not think it's any too peculiar. A lot of traffic moves at night when they can get around a mite easier."
Santee stepped up. "We already got us a deal with Alders on the lumber for the stalls, and to pick it up in the evening to make what we're doing look more legitimate, and a whole lot less suspicious. Fact is, since it was for you, we got enough ta add a loft where a couple of us could fort up, was there a need."
"Alders turned out ta be a right nice feller, he did," Gilcrest added.
